Out with Holly at the start of our walk, met a woman and her daughter. They fussed Holly, asking how old, where did I get her from.
The mother, all missing teef, said she was looking for a Scottie, cos her son wanted one. She’d turn’t round and been looking, especially on Scottie Rescue sites, but they want over two fousand pounds! She didn’t want to spend that kind of money.
I just replied, well litters had become expensive over lockdown, and maybe there weren’t enough breeding bitches about. Then as she continued to talk, something struck me. I pointed to Holly and said ‘you know she’s a Westie, don’t you? The West Highland White Terrier. Scotties are the black ones.’
‘Ahhhhhhhhhh…’ they both went, in a ‘I didn’t know that’ tone.
‘I’ll turn round and tell my son’, the mother then said.
As I wandered off to continue our walk I pondered on whether she was taking this too lightly. If she can’t even identify the breed correctly, what research then is she likely to have done? Or is likely to? Nothing even prepared me for being a Westie owner!
Has getting a dog become popular in England during lockdown?
It has over here while people have been working from home. The problem now that people are going back to work is what to do with the dog during the day. Dog daycare centres have waiting lists as long as your arm.
In answer to your question, many pups and dogs were bought during lockdown, and then many were also given up to rescue centres, as the owners returned to work and realised their impulse buys still needed to be looked after, fed and walked. I waited till long after I retired before committing to being a dog owner.
I have also been seeing lots of pleas for daycare. And that can work out costly if needed five days a week.
Oh dear Jazzi . . . . . what can you say to people like that ey.
As you say, if they can’t be bothered to do any research even, and they don’t even know what the breed looks like, it is worrying if they’d even know how to feed, water, and look after it, let alone the coat care for those breeds.
I wonder how old her son is too?
Quite depressing people like that.
My nephew got a pup a few months ago. The poor thing now has a month left to redeem itself and secure a permanent residence with nephew, his pregnant girlfriend and her young twins.
They thought they were getting a Staffie but it seems he is crossed with something else, is growing quite big and eats all my nephew’s shoes. He claims maybe the dog doesn’t like him.
Apparently he cost them £900. Another costly mistake?? My nephew isn’t a stranger to dog ownership, btw, having had several Staffies during his previous marriage.
One of the dog homes near my son used to allow people to walk dogs at weekends .
The dogs loved it and I thought it was a great idea for people who didn’t have a dog of their own .
I went a couple of times ( before I had a dog ) they were very good at matching people with the dogs .
These was a good few years back it’s probably not allowed now because of health and safety.
This also happened at the dog sanctuary overseas they used to go out in groups ( and still do ) and showed people how to handle dogs .
Children were especially encouraged they could also play with puppies under supervision which helped socialise them and taught the children how to be gentle and care for them .
Muddy, don’t rescue places rely on volunteers to help? I think it’s a good idea for those people who can’t have a dog of their own, or any other pet. I know they need people just to go in and sit with cats, for instance, or kittens/puppies, to help socialise them.
They do but do often people often women ( yes I know I’m a woman too ) get too possessive with the dogs - at least in this country and discourage people when they should be encouraging them .
I really like Scotties and my brother has a Westie Alfie. In fact like all the small terriers; a friend of my neighbours has a Scottie who is wheaten in colour according to the breed site they can be Black, wheaten or brindle of any shade.
. . what can you say to people like that ey.